Matsui Honkan

The farewell banner was adorable, and leaving for our next prefecture made us sad. I wish I’d taken a picture. We spent three nights in a traditional tatami room and loved the experience. The room was spacious and clean, the staff very respectful, and the amenities went above and beyond. We also enjoyed the multi-course breakfast and the bath. The ryokan is within a 15-minute walk of the main Kyoto Station, with Nishiki Market even closer. We hadn’t reckoned on Japan’s heat and humidity, so having working air conditioning made the room a safe haven after days of more than 30K steps, getting lost in trains and heading out for food in the heat. Sad to leave Kyoto, but already looking forward to coming back. This ryokan deserves all the praise.

After long days out exploring, the onsen was the best part of our visit, so relaxing and absolutely amazing. We also loved the traditional breakfast, with beautifully prepared dishes that gave us a taste of Japanese cuisine. The futons were surprisingly cozy and gave us a great night’s sleep. From the moment we arrived, staff were welcoming and helpful, making sure we had what we needed for a comfortable stay. A wonderful mix of comfort, hospitality and cultural immersion. Highly recommend for an authentic, relaxing ryokan experience!

I was sad to leave. This was honestly one of my best stays in Japan, and the staff were so sweet. I’ll definitely book with them again if I come back.

Best place I’ve stayed so far in my life. It was cozy, clean and cultured, and the rooms were just right. Staff were kind, straightforward and helpful. The spa was wonderful too, and tattoos were no problem.